# XXI: A Contradiction in Dates explained — The Canary Murder Case

> Chapter companion for The Canary Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine.

## What happens

Markham, Vance, and the narrator breakfast together before heading to the District Attorney's office, where Heath has brought Cleaver. Markham confronts Cleaver about his false alibi and his presence at Margaret Odell's apartment on the night of the murder. Cleaver initially resists but eventually confesses that he went to her apartment, heard a man's voice inside, and left without entering. Vance probes Cleaver's timeline and his mention of Doctor Lindquist, leading Cleaver to reveal he met Lindquist outside the apartment building that night.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Manipulation

Cleaver's initial false alibi and his attempt to manipulate the investigation by lying about his whereabouts are central to the chapter.

### Circumstantial Evidence vs. Deduction

Markham uses witness testimony and timeline contradictions to pressure Cleaver, while Vance employs deductive reasoning to uncover the connection to Doctor Lindquist.

## Character check-ins

### John F.-X. Markham

Confronts Cleaver about his false alibi and presence at the crime scene, threatening arrest to compel testimony.

### Philo Vance

Interrogates Cleaver about the timeline and his mention of Doctor Lindquist, deducing a connection between Cleaver's street-walking and Lindquist.

### Ernest Heath

Brings Cleaver to the office and is present during the interrogation.

### Charles Cleaver

Initially defiant, he eventually confesses to visiting Odell's apartment, hearing a man's voice, and meeting Doctor Lindquist outside.

### Doctor Lindquist

Mentioned by Cleaver as having been seen near Odell's apartment on the night of the murder.

## Key lines

> I went to Miss Odell's house a little before midnight, but I didn't enter her apartment; I didn't even ring her bell.

Cleaver claims he visited Odell's building but did not go into her apartment or call on her.

_Cleaver's testimony about his actions on the night of the murder._

> Well, as near as I could make out, they were: 'Oh, my God! Oh, my God!'—repeated two or three times.

Cleaver heard a man inside Odell's apartment repeatedly exclaiming 'Oh, my God!'

_The cry Cleaver heard, which he later associated with the murder._

> I went to Miss Odell's house a little before half past eleven—thought she might be home by that time. There I ran into Doctor Lindquist standing in the entrance to the alleyway.

Cleaver encountered Doctor Lindquist near Odell's building around 11:30 PM on Monday night.

_Cleaver's revelation of meeting Lindquist, which Vance seizes upon._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/chapters/xxi-a-contradiction-in-dates
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/chapters